Joint of a foldable bed for babies

ABSTRACT

A foldable bed has a joint, which has a main body, a block up and down movably fitted to the body, two supports pivoted to the body, and two plates; two rods of a frame of the bed are pivoted to the body; the block is biased to a lowermost position by a spring, and the bed can be folded only when the block is kept in a highest position; the supports will be made to engage the block by the rods immediately after the bed is stretched, thus preventing the block from moving to the highest position; the plates are co-movable with the rods, and can make the block kept in the highest position immediately after at least one rod part is folded; thus, after the block is moved to the highest position, the rods can be folded one after the other without having to operate the block twice.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a joint of a foldable bed for babies, more particularly one, which is structured in such a way that damage thereto is prevented owing to improper actions of the user in folding and stretching the bed, and that rod parts of a frame of the bed, which are connected with the joint, will be more steadily held in position.

2. Brief Description of the Prior Art

Referring to FIG. 12, the applicant in the present application was granted U.S. Pat. No. 6,202,229 B1 on Mar. 20, 2001, which disclosed “A Joint Of A Foldable Bed For Babies”. The joint includes:

-   -   a main body 1 having a curved top portion 13, two side plates         11, 12 extending downwards from the curved top portion 13, to         which two adjacent ones of rod parts 4, 4 of a frame of a bed         are pivoted at inward ends, and gaps 17 next to two ends of the         curved top portion 13;     -   a pressing block 2 up and down movably held between the side         plates 11, 12; the pressing block 2 having two engaging trenches         22 on two sides facing respective ones of two ends of the main         body 1;     -   a spring 24 positioned between the top curved portion 13 and a         top of the pressing block 2 for biasing the pressing block 2         downwards to a lowermost position; and     -   two supporting members 3, 3 held between the side plates 11, 12         and on two sides of the pressing block 2, and pivoted to the         side plates 11, 12; each supporting member 3 having an engaging         bar 32 on a first end for engagement with a corresponding         engaging trench 22 on the pressing block 2; each supporting         member 3 having a curved portion 34 formed on a second end         substantially in an opposite direction of the first end for         supporting a respective one of the inward ends of the rod parts         4 on when the bed is in a stretched position; the supporting         members 3 having elastic plate portions 33 above the engaging         bars 32 thereof.

Thus, the supporting members 3 will be tightly pressed on respective ones of the engaging trenches 22 at the engaging bars 32 thereof to prevent the pressing block 2 from moving as soon as the rod parts 4 are pressed against the curved portions 34 of the supporting members 3 at the inward ends thereof owing to gravity after the bed has been stretched as well as after the pressing block 2 has been biased to the lowermost position by means of the spring 24, thus preventing the bed from folding.

And, to fold the bed, first the main body 1 is slightly lifted such that the inwards ends of the rod parts 4 move to higher position to be away from the curved portions 34 of the supporting members 3; thus, the supporting members 3 will pivot automatically so as to be away from the engaging trenches 22 of the pressing block 2, no longer stopping the pressing block 2 from moving up. Then, the pressing block 2 is manually pushed to a highest position such that the supporting members 3 are free to pivot. Finally, the rod parts 4 are angularly displaced relative to the main 1 body towards an upright position where the inward ends of the rod parts 9 are the lowermost; thus the bed is folded.

The above joint of a foldable bed is found to have disadvantages as followings:

-   1. One of the rod parts 4 can still be left in the horizontal     stretched position in folding the bed because of improper action of     the user. And, the user has to first push the pressing block 2 to     the highest position again before he pivots the left-horizontal rod     part 4 to the upright position because the pressing block 2 has been     biased to the lowermost position by the spring 24 immediately after     the user stopped pushing it. However, the user usually forces this     rod part 4 to change angular position relative to the main body 1     without first pushing the pressing block 2. Consequently, the joint     is damaged. -   2. Although supporting members 3 are formed with the curved portions     34 for contacting the curved sides of the rod parts 4, the inward     ends of the rod parts 4 still can't contact the curved portions 34     closely, and there is space in between. Consequently, the rod parts     4 are not steady enough when the bed is in the stretched position.

SUMMARY

It is a main object of the present invention to provide a joint of a foldable bed for babies to overcome the above disadvantages.

The joint includes a main body, a pressing block, two supporting members, and two plate members. The main body, the pressing block, and the supporting members are basically the same as those of the prior joint, and the plate members are fitted on the main body, and formed with stopping bumps for making the supporting members keep the pressing block in the highest position as soon as at least one of the rod parts of the frame is angularly displaced to the upright folded position; thus, in case the user only successfully moves one of the rod parts, and leaves the other rod part in the horizontal position in his first action of folding the bed, the pressing block will still be kept in the highest position, and the latter rod part still can be easily pivoted towards the folded position without any obstacle, preventing damage to the present joint. Furthermore, the inward ends of the rod parts have plane bottom sides, and the supporting members have plane bearing sides for supporting the plane bottom sides on; thus, the rod parts are more steadily held in position when the bed is in the stretched position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be better understood by referring to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the joint of a foldable bed according to the present invention,

FIG. 2 is a front view of the joint of the present invention,

FIG. 3 is a top view of the joint of the present invention,

FIG. 4 is a front view of the present joint, in folding action for the bed (step one),

FIG. 5 is a front view of the present joint, in folding action for the bed (step two),

FIG. 6 is a front view of the joint, after folding action of the bed,

FIG. 7 is a side view of the joint, in folding action of the bed,

FIG. 8 is a front view of the joint, when the bed is in partially folded position,

FIG. 9 is a front view of the joint, while the pressing block is in the highest position after the bed is partially folded,

FIG. 10 is a front view of the present joint, when the bed is being stretched,

FIG. 11 is a side view of the present joint, when the bed is being stretched, and

FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view of the prior joint of a foldable bed as described in Background.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, a preferred embodiment of a joint of a foldable bed for babies includes a main body 5, a pressing block 6, two supporting members 7, two plate members 8, and two plug bodies 91, and is connected with two adjacent ones of rod parts 9 of a frame of the foldable bed, which have radial pivotal holes 92 near to inward ends thereof for connection with the joint. Furthermore, each of the rod parts 9 has a plug body 91, which is inserted in the inward end, and which has a plane contact bottom 911 outside the rod part 9, and a through hole 912 aligned with the pivotal hole 92.

The main body 5 of the joint has a curved top portion 52, and two substantially parallel and opposing side plates 51, which extend downwards from the curved top portion 52, and project beyond the curved top portion 52 at two ends thereof. The side plates 51 are formed with two pairs of fitting holes 511 along lower ends of middle lines thereof, two pairs of pivotal holes 512 equidistant to the middle lines, two pairs of pivotal holes 513 on upper corners, two fitting holes 514 under the pivotal holes 513 of a first one of the side plates 51, two through holes 516 higher than the pivotal holes 512 on the first side plate 51, and two through holes 515 higher than the through holes 516 on the first side plate 51; the through holes 516 are farther away from the middle line of the first side plate 51 than the pivotal holes 512. The curved top portion 52 has a opening 522 on a middle thereof, two connecting holes 521 on two sides of the opening 522, and a locating plate 523 fitted to the opening 522 and projecting downwards between the side plates 51. Protecting plates 57 are secured on the top portion 52 by means of securing elements 56, which are passed through the protecting plates 57 as well as the connecting holes 521.

The rod parts 9 of the frame are pivoted to the main body 5 by means of pivotal posts 55, which are passed through the pivotal holes 513, 92 of the main body 5 and the rod parts 9, and the through holes 912 of the plug bodies 91 such that the rod parts 9 can be angularly displaced relative to the main body 5 for the frame to change from a folded position, as shown in FIG. 6, and a stretched position, as shown in FIG. 2, and vice versa.

The pressing block 6 has an upright slot 61 at a middle, two engaging trenches 62 facing opposite directions, two stopping protrusions 63 under respective ones of the engaging trenches 62, two holding recesses (not numbered) above the stopping protrusions 63, and a locating cavity 64 on a top side. The pressing block 6 is up and down movably held between the side plates 51 of the main body 5 by means of guide pins 53, which are passed through the fitting holes 511 of the main body 5, and the slot 61 of the block 6; thus, the engaging trenches 62 are directed towards respective ones of the inward ends of the rod parts 9. In addition, a spring 65 is positioned on the locating cavity 64 at a lower end, and fitted to the locating plate 523 at an upper end for biasing the pressing block 6 downwards to a lowermost position.

Each of the supporting members 7 has a pivotal hole 71, an engaging bar 72 at a first end, an elastic plate portion 73, and a bearing side 74 formed on a second end substantially in an opposite direction of the first end. The supporting members 7 are pivoted to the main body 5 by means of pivotal pins 54, which are passed through the pivotal holes 512, and the pivotal holes 71 thereof, so as to be beside the pressing block 6 with the engaging bar 72 facing a corresponding engaging trench 62.

Each of the plate members 8 has a through hole 81 at a first end, a contacting bump 82 on a first side of the first end, a locating bump 83 also on the first side of the first end, a recess 84 over a middle portion of the first side, a touching bump 85 on a second end of the first side, and a stopping bump 86 also on the second end of the first side; the plate members 86 are flexible because the middle portions thereof are thinner owing to the presence of the recesses 84. The plate members 8 are positioned next to the outer side of the first side plate 51, and are connected to respective ones of the pivotal posts 55 of the rod parts 9 at the through holes 81 thereof with the locating bumps 83 being passed into the fitting holes 514 of the first side plate 51, the contacting bumps 82 being pressed against the first side plate 51, and with the touching bumps 85, and the stopping bumps 86 being respectively passed through the through holes 515, 515, and 516, 516 of the first side plate 51, as early mentioned. In addition, when the foldable bed is in the stretched position, the rod parts 9 will touch the corresponding touching bumps 85 such that the second ends of the plate members 8 are pushed outwards, and the stopping bumps 86 will retreat from the inner side of the first side plate 51 so as not to be obstacle to the supporting members 7 any longer. And, the plate members 8 are pressed against the first side plate 51 at the contacting bumps 82 thereof such that there is a small distance between the first ends of the plate members 8 and the first side plate 51, and the second ends of the plate members 8 are tightly pressed against the first side plate 51 with the touching bumps 85, and the stopping bumps 86 projecting beyond the inner side of the first side plate 51.

Thus, referring to FIG. 2, when the bed is in the stretched position, and the pressing block 6 in the lowermost position, the plane contact bottoms 911 of the plug bodies 91 will be pressed against the bearing sides 74 of the supporting members 7 at the inward ends thereof owing to gravity and tension of cloth portion of the bed, and the supporting members 7 stopped from turning by the pressing block 6 with the engaging bars 72 being fitted onto, and pressed against the engaging trenches 62, and in turns, the pressing block 6 cannot be moved upwards, and the rod parts 9 are stopped from pivoting downwards on the pivotal posts 55 by the bearing sides 74 of the supporting members 7; thus, the bed is prevented from folding. When the bed is in the stretched position, the inward ends of both the rod parts 9 will be pressed against the touching bumps 85 of the plate members 8 such that the stopping bumps 86 and the touching bumps 85 are retreated from the inner side of the first side plate 51, as shown in FIG. 3.

To fold the bed, referring to FIG. 4, first the main body 5 is slightly lifted such that the plane contact bottoms 911 of the plug bodies 91 move to a higher position to be away from the bearing sides 73 of the supporting members 7 together with the inwards ends of the rod parts 9. Consequently, the supporting members 7 pivot automatically so as to be away from the engaging trenches 62, no longer stopping the pressing block 6 from moving up, as shown in FIG. 4. Then, the pressing block 6 is pushed upwards, which will be stopped from moving further up as soon as the stopping protrusions 63 thereof come into contact with the inward ends of the supporting members 7, on which the engaging bars 72 are formed, and the pressing block 6 is kept in the highest position; thus, the inward ends of the supporting members 7 are held in the holding recesses of the pressing block 6, and the supporting members 7 are free to pivot in such direction that the outward ends thereof, on which the bearing sides 74 are formed, move down. Then, the main body 5 is pressed so as to cause angular displacement of the rod parts 9 towards an upright position where the inward ends of the rod parts 9 are the lowermost; thus, the plug bodies 91 will make the outward ends of the supporting members 7 move down together with them; thus, the outward ends of the supporting members 7 are right under the stopping bumps 86, and the inward ends of the supporting members 7 are right under those portions of the pressing block 6 that are formed with the engaging trenches 62; the stopping bumps 86 will project beyond the inner side of the first side plate 51 again after the rod parts 9 leave them. Consequently, the supporting members 7 are stopped from turning, and the pressing block 6 is kept in the highest position by means of the supporting members 7, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7.

Therefore, in folding the bed, in case the user only successfully makes one of the rod parts 9 pass beyond the corresponding stopping bump 86, and leaves the other rod part 9 in the horizontal stretched position in his first action, the pressing block 6 will still be kept in the highest position by one of the supporting members 7 that is related to the former one of the rod parts 9. And, the latter one of the rod parts 9 still can be easily pivoted to the upright position without any obstacle. In other words, there is no possibility of damage to the joint that could be caused when the rod part 9 is forced to pivot to the upright position while being still locked with the joint.

Referring to FIG. 9, when the user moves a first one of the rod parts 9 towards the horizontally stretched position after having made the first rod part 9 move to under the corresponding stopping bump 86, the first rod part 9 will force the corresponding stopping bump 86 retreat from the inner side of the first side plate 51 of the main body 5, and in turns, the stopping bump 86 doesn't stop the corresponding supporting member 7 any longer, and the supporting member 7 is free to pivot with the outward end thereof moving upwards. And, the pressing block 6 will be made to move down to the lowermost position by the spring 65 immediately, and the corresponding engaging bar 72 will be pressed against the engaging trench 62 of the pressing block 6 with the help of the plug body 91 of the first rod part 9, which is pressed against the bearing side 74 at the plane contact bottom 911 thereof.

To stretch the bed, referring to FIGS. 2 and 10, the user only has to lift the main body 5; while the main body 5 is being lifted, the rod parts 9 will pivot so as to make the stopping bumps 86 retreat from the inner side of the first side plate 51 such that the stopping bumps 86 won't stop the corresponding supporting members 7 any longer, and the supporting members 7 are free to pivot with the outward ends thereof moving upwards. And, the pressing block 6 will move down to the lowermost position immediately after the above actions, and the engaging bars 72 of the supporting members 7 will be tightly fitted onto the engaging trenches 62 with the help of the plug bodies 91 of the rod parts 9, which are pressed against the bearing sides 74 at the plane contact bottoms 911. Thus, the bed is stretched, and fixed in the stretched position.

Furthermore, the plate members 8 can't turn on the main body 5 owing to the engagement of the locating bumps 83 with the fitting holes 514, and in turns, unwanted angular displacement of the plate members 8 are prevented after assembly. And, the contact between the contacting bumps 82 and the first side plate 51 will not only make the second ends of the plate members 8 tightly pressed against the first side plate 51 normally, but also will prevent errors in connecting the pivotal posts 55 to the rod parts 9 as well as the main body 5, allowing the rod parts 9 to be properly fitted to the main body 5.

From the above description, it can be easily understood that the present joint of a foldable bed for babies has advantages as followings:

-   1. The rod parts 9 have the plane contact bottom sides 911 at the     inward ends, and the bearing sides 74 of the supporting members 8     are plane therefore the inward ends of the rod parts 9 can be steady     on the supporting members 8 when the bed is in the stretched     position. -   2. Because of the stopping bumps 86 for the supporting members 7, in     case the user only successfully makes one of the rod parts 9 pass     beyond the corresponding stopping bump 86, and leaves the other rod     part 9 in the horizontal position in his first action of folding the     bed, the pressing block 6 will still be kept in the highest position     by means of one of the supporting members 7 that is related to the     former rod part 9. Consequently, the latter rod part 9 still can be     easily pivoted towards the folded position without any obstacle, and     there won't be any possibility of damage caused to the present joint     by the angular displacement of the latter rod part 9. -   3. In stretching the bed, the rod parts 9 will pivot on the main     body 5 so as to make the stopping bumps 86 retreat from the inner     side of the first side plate 51 automatically. Consequently, the     supporting members 7 are free to pivot with the outward ends thereof     moving upwards, and the pressing block 6 will be made to move down     by the spring 65 immediately for keeping the bed in the stretched     position together with the supporting members 7. -   4. When the bed is in the stretched position, the rod parts 9 will     touch the corresponding touching bumps 85 to push the second ends of     the plate members 8. Thus, the stopping bumps 86 of the plate     members 8 will retreat from the inner side of the first side plate     51 so as not to be the obstacle to the supporting members 7 any     longer. 

1. A joint of a foldable bed for babies, comprising a main body having a curved top portion, and two side plates extending downwards from the curved top portion, and projecting beyond two ends of the curved top portion; two adjacent ones of rod parts of a frame of a bed being pivoted to two ends of the main body at inward ends thereof by means of first pivotal posts with the inward ends being held between the side plates; the rod parts having plane contact bottom sides on the inward ends thereof; a pressing block up and down movably held between the side plates of the main body; the pressing block having two engaging trenches on two sides facing respective ones of the two ends of the main body; a spring positioned between the top curved portion and a top of the pressing block for biasing the pressing block downwards to a lowermost position; and two supporting members held between the side plates and on two sides of the pressing block, and pivoted to the side plates; each supporting member having an engaging bar on a first end for engagement with a corresponding engaging trench on the pressing block; each supporting member having a bearing side formed on a second end substantially in an opposite direction of the first end for supporting the plane contact bottom side of a corresponding rod part on when the bed is in a stretched position; the supporting members having elastic plate portions above the engaging bars thereof; the supporting members being capable of being tightly pressed on respective ones of the engaging trenches at the engaging bars to prevent the pressing block from being moved up as soon as the rod parts are pressed against the bearing sides of the supporting members at the plane contact bottom sides owing to gravity after the bed has been stretched, and after the pressing block has been biased to the lowermost position by means of the spring; whereby the bed can be folded only after the pressing block is moved from the lowermost position to a substantially highest position to allow the supporting members to pivot such that the rod parts can pass the supporting members at the inward ends thereof.
 2. A joint of a foldable bed for babies, comprising a main body having a curved top portion, and two side plates extending downwards from the curved top portion, and projecting beyond two ends of the curved top portion; two adjacent ones of rod parts of a frame of a bed being pivoted to two ends of the main body at inward ends thereof by means of first pivotal posts with the inward ends being held between the side plates; a first one of the side plates of the main body having a pair of first through holes equidistant to a middle thereof, and a pair of second through holes equidistant to the middle thereof; a pressing block up and down movably held between the side plates of the main body; the pressing block having two engaging trenches on two sides facing respective ones of the two ends of the main body; a spring positioned between the top curved portion and a top of the pressing block for biasing the pressing block downwards to a lowermost position; two supporting members held between the side plates and on two sides of the pressing block, and pivoted to the side plates; each supporting member having an engaging bar on a first end for engagement with a corresponding engaging trench on the pressing block; each supporting member having a bearing side formed on a second end substantially in an opposite direction of the first end for supporting the inward end of a corresponding rod part on when the bed is in a stretched position; the supporting members having elastic plate portions above the engaging bars thereof; and two plate members arranged next to an outer side of a first one of the side plates with a first side facing the first side plate; the plate members being connected to respective ones of the first pivotal posts at first ends thereof; each of the plate members having both a touching bump and a stopping bump on a second end of the first side; the touching bumps being higher than the stopping bumps; the touching bumps being respectively passed through the first through holes of the first side plate; the stopping bumps being respectively passed through the second through holes of the first side plate; when the bed is in a stretched position, the rod parts being capable of being pressed against the touching bumps so as to make the touching bumps and the stopping bumps retreat from the inner side of the first side plate of the main body; the supporting members being capable of being tightly pressed on respective ones of the engaging trenches at the engaging bars to prevent the pressing block from being moved up as soon as the rod parts are pressed against the bearing sides of the supporting members at the inward ends thereof owing to gravity after the bed has been stretched, and after the pressing block has been biased to the lowermost position by means of the spring, whereby the bed can be folded only after the pressing block is moved from the lowermost position to a substantially highest position to allow the supporting members to pivot such that the rod parts can pass the supporting members at the inward ends thereof; while the rod parts are being angularly displaced relative to the main body towards an upright position to fold the bed after the pressing block has been pushed to the substantially highest position, the inward ends of the rod parts being capable of making the second ends of the supporting members move down together with them, thus allowing the stopping bumps to stop the second ends of the supporting members from moving up immediately after the second ends of the supporting members and the inward ends of the rod parts pass the stopping bumps, and thus allowing the supporting members to hold the pressing block on the first ends thereof so as to prevent the pressing block from moving down from the substantially highest position.
 3. The joint as claimed in claim 2, wherein the pressing block has two stopping protrusions under respective ones of the engaging trenches, which stopping protrusions will come into contact with the first ends of the supporting members for upward movement of the pressing block to be stopped as soon as the block is moved to the highest position.
 4. The joint as claimed in claim 2, wherein the plate members have recesses over middle portions of the first sides thereof such that the middle portions are thinner, and the plate members are flexible.
 5. The joint as claimed in claim 4, wherein the plate members have contacting bumps on the first side of the first end, which are pressed against the first side plate, such that the second ends of the plate members are tightly pressed against the first side plate.
 6. The joint as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first side plate has fitting holes on two ends thereof, and the plate members have locating bumps on the first side of the first end, which are through the fitting holes of the first side plate.
 7. The joint as claimed in claim 6, wherein the plate members have contacting bumps on the first side of the first end, which are pressed against the first side plate, such that the second ends of the plate members are tightly pressed against the first side plate.
 8. The joint as claimed in claim 2, wherein the plate members have contacting bumps on the first side of the first end, which are pressed against the first side plate, such that the second ends of the plate members are tightly pressed against the first side plate.
 9. The joint as claimed in claim 2, wherein two protecting plates are respectively secured on two ends of the curved top portion of the main body by means of fixing elements.
 10. The joint as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pressing block has two stopping protrusions under respective ones of the engaging trenches, which stopping protrusions will come into contact with the first ends of the supporting members for upward movement of the pressing block to be stopped as soon as the block is moved to the highest position.
 11. The joint as claimed in claim 1, wherein two protecting plates are respectively secured on two ends of the curved top portion of the main body by means of fixing elements. 